News in Maldon

Essex Marine Police were worried when they spotted this rather wonky-looking load as they headed out to their patrols around Maldon district yesterday (Wednesday, 17 March).

Officers from the force's Marine Unit, based at Burnham-on-Crouch, shared the picture on Twitter after stopping the driver and arranging safer transport.

Children across the district who have free school meals will be getting vouchers again over the coming Easter holidays.

Essex County Council (ECC) has confirmed that the meals voucher system will be in place during the Easter break, allowing parents and young people to use them to shop and select their own food.

A landmark Grade II listed building built by historic Heybridge-based company E H Bentall and Co. is up for auction on 25 March.

The heritage building was built as a warehouse for the renowned agricultural equipment firm in 1863 and sits gracefully at the side of the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation, now converted to offices.

Police who issued an appeal to the public to identify a person in connection with an alleged incident at Fambridge Yacht Club in which an assault was reported have withdrawn it.

The incident was alleged to have happened at 4.20pm on Sunday, 6 March but police no longer wish to speak to a person identified in a picture at the club.

A new 'click and collect' scheme for independent businesses will go live in Maldon this spring.

'Click It Local' is a new service to allow independent businesses access to click and collect and delivery and is one of four projects being rolled out to help businesses in this part of Essex get back on their feet as the economy re-opens after lockdown.

Maldon's Thames sailing barge lovers will be pleased to learn that a series of spring sailings have been announced.

Thames Sailing Barge Trust has announced 13 half-day and three full-day trips - all leaving from Maldon - on dates from April to June.

A meeting of Maldon District Council on Thursday (18 March) will discuss a motion to set up foodbanks in both Maldon and Burnham-on-Crouch town centres.

The proposal to set up the facility in Maldon District Council's offices in Princes Road and at an unspecified location in Burnham has been made by Councillor Chrisy Morris and seconded by Councillor Vanessa Bell.

The Maldon Mud Race team is thrilled to announce a new major sponsor for this year's event, which is now confirmed as Sunday, 15 August.

Organisers of the famous annual event at Maldon's Promenade Park were devastated when Covid-19 meant the cancellation of the 2020 race - but the team are putting all their efforts into ensuring 2021 is a bumper year.

Today (Tuesday, 16 March) marks the first anniversary of the day Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the nation that the time had come to limit all unnecessary social contact - and also the day the first person in Essex died of Covid-19 at Broomfield Hospital.

A year on, in the midst of the third national lockdown and with a total of 149 Covid-related deaths registered for Maldon district alone (up to 5 March), many might pause to reflect on the past 12 months.

In his latest column, Chairman of Maldon District Council, Independent Councillor Mark Heard, tells us what 'purdah' is and why he won't be writing this column again until after the local elections.

"I'm sorry to say that until the local elections are over on 6th May, I must suspend this column because when an election is called, there are rules which dictate what can be published or promoted by the council.